NORTHEAST INDIA PROVINCE, MSFS PROVINCIALATE
GPO Box No. 308, GUWAHATI – 781 001
Tel: 0361 2648507 / Fax 0361 2648510
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GPA/01Circular–January 2014
Dear Confreres,
Trusting in God and counting on the cooperation of all of you, I have humbly assumed the responsibility to be the 5th Provincial of Northeast India Province, beginning on January 23, 2014. I would like to thank Rev. Fr Abraham Vettuvelil the Superior General and his Council for their trust in me. I also thank all of you, the confreres of Northeast Province, for your confidence that I will carry out the obligations of my new office in accordance with the Constitutions of the Congregation. On this occasion I remain deeply grateful to my predecessors Rev. Frs Abraham Mullenkuzhy, Jose Thenganakunnel, George Parampukattil and Francis Thadathil who have built up the Province with the cooperation of all confreres. I thank Fr Francis Thadathil the outgoing Provincial and the Provincial Councillors, and Fr Joseph Thazhathukunnel and the Provincial community for the warm welcome accorded to me and for organizing the installation programme with enormous hard-work, sincere care and selfless dedication. I acknowledge with gratitude the loving presence of His Grace Most Rev. John Moolachira, the Archbishop of Guwahati, who presided over the solemnEucharistic celebration, all those confreres, especially Fr George Parampukattil the General Councillor, well-wishers and friends who accepted the invitation of the Provincial community and came to pray with me.
I am also aware that I have been called not only to lead the Province, but also to be led; to be led by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be led by the teachings of the Church, to be led by the guidelines of my superiors, and to be led by the experience and wisdom of the members of the Province. May the Lord bless me to lead and to be led, and thus to be faithful to his mission. May Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of Compassion, St. Francis de Sales our Patron, and Father Peter Mermier our Founder and Servant of God bless and protect every member of this Province.
Convoking of the 6thOrdinary Provincial Congress of NortheastIndia Province
In consultation with the Provincial Council and with the prior approval of the Superior General, and in accordance with the Constitutions of the Congregation (Con. 234ff and GD. 261ff), I am glad to convoke the 6th Ordinary Provincial Congress of Northeast India Province, which will be held at SILOAM, Transformational Leadership Resource Center, UMSAW KWAN, UMSAW PO, 793123- (BARAPANI via), RI-BHOI Dt., MEGHALAYA, from April 23 (at 10 am) to 27 (at 08 pm), 2014. A Steering Committee – consisting of Frs Benoy Veliyath (Convener), Emmanuel Mappilaparambil (member), Athnas Kerketta (member) and George Thomas Poovathunkal (member) - has also been constituted by the Provincial Council for the organizing of the Congress. The theme of the Congress is the following: FRANSALIANS IN NORTHEAST INDIA PROVINCE:TOWARDS A RENEWED MISSIONARY THRUST IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FR MERMIER. All members with active voice are convoked to take part in the Congress (Cf. GD 277). If anyone is unable to take part in the Congress due to unavoidable circumstances, except those who are abroad, kindly take permission for absence from the Provincial at the earliest, the latest by February 28.
May I request every confrere of the Province to prepare for this event with special prayer, mortifications, study and focused discussions. The Congress also envisages an updating of the Provincial Statutes. The Steering Committee will send to you at the earliest a draft of the Statutes, Core Issues and Other details as soon as these are ready. Kindly study them personally and discuss them at the meetings of your Local Community, Apostolic Community, Delegation and Region. The Superiors of the Local Communities, the Convenors of the Apostolic Communities, Superior of the Delegation, and Regional Superior are requested to send reports of those discussions to Fr. Benoy Veliyath by March 15 in the following address: Fr. Benoy Veliyath, MSFS Study House, Mawroh, Mawlai, Shillong – 793008, Meghalaya. E-mail: ; Mobile: 0-9615212210.
Special Invitees:
Rev. Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy, Assistant Superior General
Rev. Fr. George Parampukattil, General Councillor and Former Provincial
Rev. Fr. Simon Paikatt, Provincial of Visakhapatnam Province
Rev. Fr. Jose Kumblolickal, Provincial of South West Province
Rev. Fr. Antony Dharmaraj, Provincial of South East Province
Rev. Fr. Vincent Lourdusamy, Provincial of Pune Province
Rev. Fr. Jacob Karamakuzhy, Provincial of Nagpur Province
Rev. Fr. Joy Mampally, Rector and President of Suvidya College
Representatives of Scholastics
One Representative of Scholastics in Theology
One Representative of Scholastics in Philosophy and Regency
Thanks to Rev. Fr. Francis Thadathil the Outgoing Provincial
Fr. Francis Thadathil completed his term of office as the 4th Provincial after 6 years of total gift of himself to Northeast Province on January 23, 2014. The person of Francis embodies some of the finest qualities of a Fransalianmissionary inspired by Mermierian spirit. The missionary character of the Congregation has always been at the forefront of his mind.His deep insights into the missionary history of the Province and his rootedness in the Fransalian heritage are assets to the Province. He is known for his excellent administrative skills, commitment and love for the Province, far-sightedness, personnel planning and execution. He possesses an unfading, pleasant and welcoming smile with a hospitable attitude to all. He has always been attentive to the point at issue in every discussion and had something new to contribute from his vast experience. He has proved himself to be a courageous captain amidst all difficulties, because his whole life and ministry is centred on the person of Jesus. May the good Lord continue to bless and guide him.
Transfers and Appointments
The Provincial Council that met at MSFS Provincialate, Narengi, on January 23-24, 2014, made the following transfers and appointments.
Fr. Johnson Kunnumpurath is appointed Assistant Parish Priest and Headmaster at Umwahlang with effect from February 20, 2014.
Fr. Silanand Soreng is appointed Assistant Parish Priest and Headmaster at Mawryngkneng with effect from February 10, 2014.
Fr. Praveen Kumbattu is transferred from Umwahlang to MSFS Study House, Shillong, for B.Ed Studies with effect from February 10, 2014.
Fr. Firstar Shylla is relieved of his responsibilities at Mawryngkneng for a leadership course with effect from February 10, 2014.
Hearty Congrats!
Rev. Fr. Sabukuttan Francis as the Delegation Superior of NE India Province in GA
As per the result of the consultative voting done in view of appointing the Delegation Superior of Northeast India Province in Germany-Austria (GA), Fr. Sabukuttan Francis was appointed as the Delegation Superior. His installation took place on January 24, 2014, at MSFS Provincialate, Guwahati. Hearty Congrats to Fr Sabu!
Rev. Fr. Saji George Puthiyakulangara Completed his Doctorate
Rev. Fr. Saji George completed his Doctorate in Theology and returned to India on January 21, 2014. He has already taken charge of his assignment as Vice Rector at SFS Seminary, Medziphema. His doctoral thesis is, “THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION IN THE WORK OF PIUS PARSCH: WITH AN OUTLOOK TOWARDS THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL’S CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY.” Hearty Congrats to Fr. Saji!
Rev. Dr Joy Mampally Appointed Rector and President of Suvidya College
Rev. Fr. Superior General in his letter dated 10.01.2014 appointed Dr. Joy Mampally as Rector of Suvidya College for a period of three years with effect from 16.01.2014. During the same period he will also be the President of the Institute. The Province of Northeast wishes him all success.
Rev. Fr. Antony Dharmaraj Appointed Chairman of Suvidya College
The Governing Body of Suvidya College elected Fr. Antony Dharmaraj, the Provincial of South East India Province as the Chairman of Suvidya College. This election has been approved by the Superior General who has also appointed him to the office. Fr. Antony Dharmaraj as Chairman will also be the major superior of the Community of Suvidya. On behalf of the Province of Northeast, I wish Fr. Antony Dharmaraj all success in this important assignment.
My Visitation to Centres
I will soon be beginning my visitation to all centres in the Province. The details will be worked out in consultation with the confreres at the centres.
Fraternally,
Yours in the Lord,
P. George Panthanmackel, msfs
Provincial
Northeast India Province
WALKING ON THE PATH OF THE PATRON
“Just as the birds always find air wherever they fly, so is God present wherever we are and wherever we go (SFS, IDL III: p.74”).